Suspected scam artist thrown in jail

Associated Press

SPOKANE — A man who police say spent years living in relative luxury off bad checks and irregular business deals was captured Thursday.

Gregory T. Gamby, 45, was arrested without incident in an apartment complex.

He was wanted on seven felony warrants involving $12,725 in worthless checks, police said. But his activities appeared to be far more extensive.

In one instance, Gamby sold a house that belonged to a family while they were away for an extended period, police Det. Craig Brenden said. The new buyers had already moved in when the real owners returned.

Gamby disappeared with the purchase money, police said.

In another case, Gamby bought a house and made one payment with a check that later bounced, and remained in the house for two years without paying another cent, police said. The owner of the house spent between $40,000 and $50,000 to pay the second mortgage so as not to lose the house, police said.

Gamby drove a Porsche, played golf frequently and dined out often, police said.

Police went first to a Spokane motel Thursday morning searching for Gamby, and found he had skipped out while owing the motel about $2,000. He was arrested without incident a short time later at an apartment complex.

It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.

Police have been after him for more than a year, Brenden said, ever since his former bankruptcy lawyers reported that he had been trying to pay them with bad checks.